A major area of concern when planning, constructing and managing a baseball/softball facility should be the provision of an adequate spectator protection system. The administrators of such a facility must consider the concepts of risk management to insure that the spectators will be provided a safe environment when attending a baseball/softball game.

This paper examines spectator safety considerations which should be implemented at all stadia that are designed to attract spectators. The paper also undertakes an analysis and comparison of three representative baseball/softball facilities; a professional baseball field in Salt Lake City, Derk’s Field; the Board of Education/Recreation Department Softball Complex in Wappinger’s Falls, New York and the Municipal Recreation Field, in Purchase, New York. In addition to a comparison of the exemplary fields, recommendations are made regarding the reduction of spectator injuries and subsequent litigation.